Web-fed rotary printing press

ABSTRACT

A web-fed rotary printing press, which is used for printing a web has at least four printing points or locations that are allocated to the web in an imprinting mode of the press. At least one of each two printing points or locations can be alternatively engaged with the web. These two printing points apply the same ink to the same side of the web. These two printing points or locations are situated in two different printing units. In each of the operating modes of the press, at least one of the printing points or locations in each of the units is in a print-on position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a web-fed rotary printing press.The printing press includes at least two printing units, each of whichhas a plurality of printing positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A web-fed rotary printing press in satellite construction is known fromEP 0 710 558 B1. Each of both sides of a paper web successively passesthrough eight printing positions, so that the web passes through 16printing positions. The web passes successively through the two printingtowers in a 4/4 paper guidance, and each printing tower can be engagedor disengaged as a unit for the purpose of imprinter functionality.

DE 43 03 904 C2 shows several arrangements of two printing groups placedon top of each other. A paper web passing through the two printinggroups can be imprinted on both sides in at most four colors.

DE 196 03 663 A1 shows two H-printing units arranged one behind theother in the running direction of the web. The web, as a whole, can beimprinted on both sides. Forme cylinders on one side can be disengagedfor flying plate changes.

In the later published DE 101 05 926 A1, a web is conducted through twounits, each unit being provided with eight printing positions. In eachone of the modes of operation of a flying plate change, at least oneprinting position of each unit is in a print-on position. The printinggroups, which are imprinting the same color on the same side of the web,are located in the same unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is directed to providing a web-fedrotary printing press which, for all modes of operation in four-colorimprinting operations, or in four-color operation with flying platechanges, assures as even and uniform operating conditions as possible.

In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by theprovision of a web-fed rotary printing press for imprinting a web as theweb passes through at least two units. The units contain at least fourprinting positions and the two units may be horizontally offset. The atleast four printing positions are formed into groups of two printingpositions. The same colors can be applied to the same side of the web ina first operating mode by a group of printing positions in the firstunit and, in a second operating mode, by a group of printing positionsin the second unit. In both of the operating modes, at least one groupof printing positions is in the print-on position in each of the twounits.

The advantages which can be gained by the invention consist, inparticular, in that the print quality, in case of a change of theoperating modes in multi-color imprinter operations, in particular, isincreased, without an increased outlay, for the refitting of an existingprinting press, being necessary.

In contrast to alternatingly switching an entire printing tower on oroff, more even conditions are being provided, as a whole, along theprocessing path. For example, the most even moistening possible of theweb of material, i.e. the paper web, is achieved by the use of theweb-fed rotary printing press of the present invention. It is avoidedthat, for example in the first operating mode of a so-called 4/4+4/4paper guidance, a first printing tower moistens the paper web andcompletely imprints it 4/4, while the second printing tower is switchedoff, and that, in a second operating mode, only the second printingtower imprints the paper web 4/4, and that because of this, considerabledifferences result in the running path of the moistened paper webbetween the two operating modes. In one case, for example, long runningpaths must be initially traveled dry upstream of the first printinggroup, while, in the other case, short and dry paths must initially betraveled, but downstream of the last printing group, long moist pathsmust be traveled.

The improvement of the print quality, in accordance with the presentinvention, is achieved because in every one of the operating modes ofthe imprinter operation, for example during flying plate changes, atleast one of the printing groups of each printing unit, or of eachprinting tower, is engaged.

Besides the effects of moistening, by the operation of moisteningdevices, other effects, such as, for example, the presence of stretchingmarks, the occurrence of transverse and/or linear stretching as a resultof printing, the effects caused by the application of ink, or theeffects of other parameters affecting the tension and conveyance, can besmoothed out.

It is therefore particularly advantageous that, for all operating modesduring imprinter operations, as even as possible conditions over theentire paper travel, and therefore also as identical as possible tensionconditions, can be produced in the paper web. At the same time, thedanger of a web break during “switching” is greatly reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in thedrawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.

Shown are in:

FIG. 1, printing units of a web-fed rotary printing press in satelliteconstruction with complete imprinter functionality during four-colorprinting, in

FIG. 2, printing units of a web-fed rotary printing press duringrubber-against-rubber printing with complete imprinter functionalityduring four-color printing, and in

FIGS. 3 a-3 d, variations in printing units with horizontal webguidance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a printing press, and in particular aweb-fed rotary printing press, has a first unit 01, for example a firstprinting unit 01 or a first printing tower 01, and a second, furtherunit 02, for example a second printing unit 02 or a second printingtower 02. The first printing unit or tower 01 has at least six printingpositions. In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention,as shown in FIG. 1 the first printing unit 01 has eight printingpositions D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, which are constituted by eightcylinders 03, for example by eight transfer cylinders 03, and bysatellite cylinders 06, for example steel cylinders 06, which satelliteor steel cylinders 06 act together with the eight transfer cylinders 03,in a print-on position of each, via a drawn-in web 04, for example animprinting material 04, and, in particular a paper web 04. The secondprinting unit or tower 02 also has at least six, and in this firstpreferred embodiment has eight printing positions D9, D10, D11, D12,D13, D14, D15, D16, which are constituted by eight cylinders 07, forexample by eight transfer cylinders 07, and by satellite cylinders 08,for example steel cylinders 08, which satellite or steel cylinders 08act together with the eight transfer cylinders 07 in the print-onposition via the web 04.

If the web 04 is to be imprinted in four colors (4/4), each of theprinting units 01, 02 must be embodied with eight printing positions D1,D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, or D9, D10, D11, D12, D13, D14, D15, D16,respectively for full imprinter capability.

In the first preferred embodiment, which is depicted in FIG. 1, forfour-color printing with full imprinter functionality, respectively twoadjoining transfer cylinders 03, 07 of the first and second printingunits 01, 02, respectively each act together with one of therespectively four steel cylinders 06, 08, and together constitute theeight printing positions D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, or D9, D10,D11, D12, D13, D14, D15, D16. For example, this can be accomplishedusing a pair of stacked ten-cylinder satellite printing units. However,four upper and/or four lower transfer cylinders 03, 07, each with asingle satellite cylinder 06, 08 in the form of so-called nine-cylinderunits, can also act together and can be stacked, for example. The atleast two, or for example, the four transfer cylinders 03, 07,constitute a group of printing positions. In the same way, the fourlower or the four upper transfer cylinders 03, 07, each acting togetherwith two satellite cylinders 06, 08, can also constitute a group ofprinting positions.

The transfer cylinders 03, 07 can be selectively placed in contact with,or against or can be moved away from the respective satellite cylinders06, 08, and can act together with forme cylinders, which are notspecifically represented, which forme cylinders, in turn, act togetherwith also not specifically represented inking units and, if required,also with moistening units.

During imprinter operations, at least the not depicted forme cylindercan be moved away from its corresponding transfer cylinder 03, or 07 andcan be operated at rpm which are different from at least the rpm of therespective satellite cylinder 06, or 08 so that, for example forchanging the printing forme or the printed image, the forme cylinder canbe braked, stopped, if necessary operated in the reverse direction,and/or operated at rpm different from the production rpm, independentlyof the satellite cylinder 06, or 08. During the changing of the printingforme or the printed image, for example illustration, the satellitecylinder 06, or 08 and, if required the transfer cylinder 03, or 07, cancontinue to be operated at the production rpm.

In the first printing unit or tower 01, the web 04 passes through theeight printing positions D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 in the customaryS-shaped manner, as seen in FIG. 1. The web 04 loops around thesatellite cylinders 06 of the lower printing positions D1, D2, D3, D4 ina first direction of rotation, in respect to a conveying direction T ofthe web 04, L in the example in a counterclockwise direction, andthrough the upper printing locations D5, D6, D7, D8 in the opposite, orin a second direction of rotation which is different from the firstdirection of rotation, R in the example in a clockwise direction. Inthis way, the web 04 can theoretically be printed in four colors on bothof its sides in the first printing tower 01 in the customary way if alleight of the printing positions D1 to D8 were engaged.

However, the web then passes, in the same or similar S-shaped manner,through the second printing tower 02 which, in an advantageousembodiment, is constructed with the same sequence of its printingpositions D9 to D16. In particular, a construction which is identicalwith the first printing tower, requires the least outlay in regard tostructure, logistics and control technology for the conversion from“normal” to imprinter operations.

However, in contrast to multi-color, imprinter-capable printing pressesof the prior art, in the present invention not all of the printingpositions D1 to D8 and D9 to D16 of the respective first and secondprinting units or towers 01, 02 are simultaneously engaged or disengagedin one operating mode. Instead, at least one printing position D1 to D8of the first printing unit or tower 01 and at least one printingposition D9 to D16 of the second printing unit or tower 02 is active, ina print-on position, in every operating mode.

If, in a preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 1, the assignment ofcolors to the printing positions D1 to D8 of the first printing unit ortower 01 and to the printing positions D9-D16 of the second printingunit or tower 02 are identical, and in particular are identical withregard to a customary color coating of a printing tower for “normaloperations”, i.e. for 4/4 printing, wherein the web 04 merely passesthrough one printing unit or tower 01, 02, conventional printing towers01, 02 with a conventional assignment of the directions of rotation andof the colors can be employed. The path of the web can also be retainedin the area of the printing towers 01, 02.

Thus, for example, the lower printing positions D1 to D4, or D9 to D12of both printing units or towers 01, 02, respectively are equipped withcyan C, magenta M, yellow Y and black B in sequence along the runningdirection of the web 04. An embodiment is advantageous in which theupper printing positions D5 to D8, or D13, to D16 along the runningdirection of the web 04 have the same color sequence as the lower ones.In this way, with an S-shaped path of the web 04, the arrangement ismirrored about a non-represented horizontal center plane of eachprinting unit or tower 01, 02.

In a first operating mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower printingpositions D1 to D4 of the first printing unit or tower 01, and the upperprinting positions D13 to D16 of the second printing unit or tower 02,which is second in the running direction of the web 04, are engaged andimprint the web 04 on both sides during imprinter operations. In thesecond operating mode, the above-mentioned lower printing positions D1to D4 and upper D13 to D16 are disengaged, for example for set-up. Inthis second operating mode, printing takes place using the upperprinting positions D5 to D8 of the first printing unit or tower 01 andusing the lower printing positions D9 to D12 of the second printing unitor tower 02.

The sequence of colors within the printing positions, assigned directlyone behind the other to the same side of the web 04, can also beselected in any other way. The mirror-reversed arrangement of the lowerand upper printing positions D1 to D16 in the respective printing unitsor towers 01, 02 is also not mandatory. However, it is essential that atleast one printing position D1 to D8 of the first printing unit or tower01, and one printing position D9 to D16 of the second printing unit ortower 02 is always activated, i.e. is in a print-on position, in each ofthe operating modes during imprinter operations.

If the printing press is to be changed from “normal operations” toimprinter operations, the web 04 is initially drawn in through both ofthe printing units or towers 01, 02. The printing positions D1 to D4 ofthe first printing unit or tower 01 and the printing positions D13 toD16 of the second printing unit or tower 02 are set up with printingformes, inks, etc. in accordance with the production in the firstoperating mode. Now, the printing positions D1 to D4 of the firstprinting unit or tower 01 and the printing positions D13 to D16 of thesecond printing unit or tower 02 are engaged for starting the printingprocess and are operated in production mode, while the printingpositions D5 to D8 of the first printing unit or tower 01 and theprinting positions D9 to D12 of the second printing unit or tower 02 areavailable for set-up.

For changing production, the printing positions D1 to D4 of the firstprinting unit or tower 01 and the printing positions D13 to D16 of thesecond printing unit or tower 02 are disengaged, and the printingpositions D5 to D8 of the first printing unit or tower 01 and theprinting positions D9 to D12 of the second printing unit or tower 02,now provided with new printing formes, are engaged.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 2, the printing positions D1 to D16 are not configured forconstituting printing positions D1 to D16 in cooperation with satellitecylinders 06, 07, but instead are configured to form pairs of doubleprinting positions D1 and D2 to D15 and D16, respectively, which areidentified in what follows as double printing positions D1, D2 and D3,D4, in rubber-against-rubber printing. These respectively constitutegroups of at least two printing positions D1 to D16.

The first printing unit 01 has at least two such double printingpositions D1, D2 to D15, D16, which are located in a common frame, forexample. In one embodiment, the first double printing position D1, D2,together with the two, non-represented forme cylinders, is embodied asan n-shaped profile, and the second double printing position D3, D4,with its forme cylinders, is embodied as a u-shaped profile. However,the double printing positions D1 and D2 to D15 and D16 can all beembodied as “n-shaped”, as linear, or as “u-shaped” profiles.

In the preferred embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2, the firstprinting unit 01 has four such double printing positions D1, D2; D3, D4;D5, D6; D7, D8, of which the two lower printing positions, and the twoupper printing positions are each arranged in one frame. However, all ofthe double printing positions D1, D2; D3, D4; D5, D6; D7, D8 can each bearranged in their own frames, or all of the double printing positionscan be arranged in a common frame. The two lower double printingpositions, and the two upper double printing positions D1, D2; D3, D4;D5, D6; D7, D8; and D9, D10; D11, D12; D13, D14 and D15, D16,respectively each constitute here a group of printing positions D1, D2;D3, D4; D5, D6; D7, D8; D9, D10; D11, D12; D13, D14 and D15, D16.

For multi-color imprinter operations, the web 04 is conducted throughthe second printing unit 02 having the same structure of the doubleprinting positions D9, D10; D11, D12; D13, D14 and D15, D16. The doubleprinting positions D1, D2; D3, D4; D5, D6; D7, D8; D9, D10; D11, D12;D13, D14 and D15, D16, intended for flying printing forme change or forimprinter operation, each can be disengaged, so that a web 04 running atproduction speed can be conducted, in a contact-free manner, through thedisengaged double printing positions D1, D2; D3, D4; D5, D6; D7, D8; D9,D10; D11, D12; D13, D14 and D15, D16.

For imprinter operations, at least one of the double printing positionsD1, D2; D3, D4; D5, D6; D7, D8; or D9, D10; D11, D12; D13, D14; D15, D16is activated, i.e. engaged, in all operating modes, the same as was thecase in the first preferred embodiment.

In an advantageous embodiment, the sequence of colors for the doubleprinting positions D1, D2; D3, D4; D5, D6; D7, D8; or D9, D10; D11, D12;D13, D14; D15, D16, in the first and in the second printing units ortowers 01, 02, is identical, as was the case in the first preferredembodiment, so that, in addition to imprinter operations, so-called“normal operations”, for 4/4 printing, are possible in each of the twoprinting units or towers 01, 02, each with vertical, upward extendingguidance of the web 04.

In the first operating mode, for example, the two lower double printingpositions D1, D2 and D3, D4 of the first printing unit or tower 01, aswell as the two upper double printing positions D13, 14 and D15, D16 ofthe second printing unit or tower 02 are engaged during imprinteroperations, while the remaining double printing positions D5, D6; D7,D8, as well as D9, D10 and D11, D12 are disengaged. In the secondoperating mode the conditions are reversed. The web 04 is, in the secondoperating mode, conducted downward after the first printing unit ortower 01, and upward in the second printing unit or tower 02.

In another preferred embodiment, which is advantageous in respect toevening out, after passing through the first printing unit or tower 01,the web 04 is conducted from above through the second printing unit ortower 02.

Also, in an effort to attain as even as possible moistening, in bothoperating modes, over the course of the web 04, it is possible toprovide different sequences of colors in the first and second printingunits or towers 01, 02.

FIGS. 3 a-3 d represent a third preferred embodiment regarding printingpositions D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, D12, D13, D14and D15, D16, or double printing positions D1, D2; D3, D4; D5, D6; D7,D8; D9, D10; D11, D12; D13, D14 and D15, D16, through which the web 04passes horizontally. The first four double printing positions D1, D2;D3, D4; D5, D6; D7, D8, as well as the second four double printingpositions D9, D10; D11, D12; D13, D14; D15, D16, are each embodied asprinting units 01, 02 for four-color printing on both sides. Duringnormal printing operations, a web 04 can pass through each of these tobe imprinted in four colors on both sides.

However, in the operating mode of the printing units, for a flying platechange, a web 04 passes through both printing units 01, 02, or throughprinting positions D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, D12,D13, D14, D15, D16 of both printing units 01, 02, wherein at least onedouble printing position D1, D2; D3, D4; D5, D6; D7, D8; D9, D10; D11,D12; D13, D14; D15, D16, as a group, for each printing unit 01, 02 isengaged and imprints the web 04.

Thus, for example, the black B, the magenta M and the yellow Y doubleprinting positions D1, D2; D5, D6; D7, D8 of the first printing unit 01,and the cyan C double printing position D11, D12 of the second printingunit 02 which are represented filled out, print in a first operatingmode depicted in FIG. 3 a. In the remaining double printing positions aplate change can take place. In the second operating mode, shown in FIG.3 b, the conditions are reversed.

In the variations represented in FIGS. 3 c and in 3 d, the first twodouble printing positions D1, D2; D3, D4 of the first printing unit 01,and the last two double printing positions D13, D14; D15, D16 of thesecond printing unit 02 are in a print-on position in a first operatingmode shown in FIG. 3 c, while the remaining ones are available for aflying plate change. In the second operating mode, which is shown inFIG. 3 d, the conditions are again reversed.

The arrangements and the operating modes for imprinter operation fromthe preferred embodiments can also be transferred to printing pressesembodied for fewer than four colors, which printing presses thereforehave fewer double printing positions. Thus, for example, it is possible,in a preferred embodiment, which is not specifically represented, toimprint a web 04 on two sides with two colors during imprinter operationby the use of two units embodied with double printing positions, whereinduring “normal operations” two webs 04 can be imprinted on two sideswith two colors.

If the printing positions D1 to D16, or the double printing positionsD1, D2 to D15, D16 are structurally arranged in different frames fromeach other, so that a path of the web 04 between the structurallyseparately arranged printing positions in, for example, the two separateprinting units 01, 02, or printing towers 01, 02, is increased, withrespect to the paths within a printing unit 01, 02, it is particularlyadvantageous, in each one of the two operating modes, to engagerespectively one printing position of each printing unit 01, 02, or ofeach printing tower 01, 02.

The expression printing unit should therefore also be understood as astructural unit, which has printing units which are arranged directlyabove each other or side-by-side, for example bridge printing units orH-printing units, whose cylinders, however, need not necessarily bearranged within the same frame.

While preferred embodiments of a web-fed rotary printing press, inaccordance with the present invention, have been set forth fully andcompletely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the artthat various changes in, for example, the specific sizes of thecylinders, the drives for the cylinders, and the like could be madewithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the subjectinvention which is accordingly to be limited only by the followingclaims.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A web-fed rotary printing press adapted for use inprinting a web comprising: at least first and second printing units; atleast four printing positions in said at least first and second printingunits; at least first and second groups of said printing positions ineach of said at least first and second printing units wherein the samecolors can be applied to the same side of a web in a first operatingmode by use of said groups of said printing positions of said firstprinting unit, and by use of said group of said printing positions ofsaid second printing unit in a second operating mode, and furtherwherein, in both said first and second operating modes, at least one ofsaid first and second groups of said printing positions is in a print-onposition in each of said at least first and second printing units. 19.The web-fed rotary printing press of claim 18 wherein there are at leastsix of said printing positions.
 20. The web-fed rotary printing press ofclaim 18 wherein said at least first and second printing units arehorizontally offset from each other.
 21. The web-fed rotary printingpress of claim 18 wherein each of said printing units is a printingtower.
 22. The web-fed rotary printing press of claim 18 wherein saidweb is conducted vertically between said at least first and secondgroups of said printing positions in each of said at least first andsecond printing units.
 23. The web-fed rotary printing press of claim 18wherein said web is conducted horizontally between said at least firstand second groups of said printing positions in each of said at leastfirst and second printing units.
 24. The web-fed rotary printing pressof claim 18 wherein each of said at least four printing positions isconstituted by four cylinders acting together with at least twosatellite cylinders.
 25. The web-fed rotary printing press of claim 21wherein each one of said printing towers includes first and secondsatellite printing units arranged on top of each other.
 26. The web-fedrotary printing press of claim 25 wherein, in said first operating mode,only printing positions from one of said first and second satelliteprinting units, and in said second operating mode only printingpositions from the other of said first and said satellite printing unitsof the same printing tower are in the print-on position.
 27. The web-fedrotary printing press of claim 18 wherein said groups of printingpositions are each double printing positions adapted for printing inrubber against rubber operation by two cylinders working together witheach other through the web.
 28. The web-fed rotary printing press ofclaim 21 wherein each said printing tower has four double printingpositions in rubber against rubber operation.
 29. The web-fed rotaryprinting press of claim 27 wherein each of said at least first andsecond printing units has four of said double printing units arrangedhorizontally side by side.
 30. The web-fed rotary printing press ofclaim 28 wherein, in each of said first and second operating modesselectively only one of lower and upper ones of said double printingpositions of each said printing unit are in the print-on position. 31.The web-fed rotary printing press of claim 21 wherein each of saidprinting towers has first and second H-printing units arranged on top ofeach other for rubber against rubber operation.
 32. The web-fed rotaryprinting press of claim 31 wherein in said first operating mode only theprinting positions of one of said H-printing units, and in said secondoperating mode, only the printing positions of the other of saidH-printing units, in said printing tower are in the print-on position.33. The web-fed rotary printing press of claim 18 further includingfirst applying the colors to a first side of a web and then applying thesame colors to a second side of the web.
 34. The web-fed rotary printingpress of claim 18 wherein in at least one mode of imprinter operation atleast one of said printing positions, which is in a print-on position isarranged intermediate others of said printing positions, along a path ofweb travel, which are in a print-off position.
 35. The web-fed rotaryprinting press of claim 18 wherein each of said at least first andsecond printing units is adapted for four color printing on both sidesof a web.